The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) began in late 1983. The survey is now mature enough for the Census Bureau to take a hard look at its design and ask whether the survey is best meeting the needs of its customers. The Bureau began this process by extensive consultation with current and potential users on issues related to SIPP. In addition to Bureau employees, these users included a Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) panel on SIPP, federal agency members of the Office of Management and Budget interagency advisory group as well as other interested agencies, a special subcommittee of the American Statisical Association's Survey Research and Methodology Section, the Association of Public Data Users SIPP subcommittee, known academic users and government contractors, and individuals identified by staff and others as potential users.